tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25375317957293337442018-03-05T10:06:50.753-08:00Neal's NotesYou can hear me weekday mornings from 6am-8am on FreshTalk 93.3 in Little Rock, Arkansas' New Talk Station.Neal's Noteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803330472075590523noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2537531795729333744.post-3429273073091351122012-03-04T10:52:00.000-08:002012-03-04T10:52:26.692-08:00Not All Music can Cross Over<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I80VNvfImDw/T1O5eIwRMVI/AAAAAAAAAGY/tUuymSEGEWI/s1600/fallon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I80VNvfImDw/T1O5eIwRMVI/AAAAAAAAAGY/tUuymSEGEWI/s200/fallon.jpg" uda="true" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the music business, lot's of artists like to cross over from one&nbsp;genre to another. There are countless examples, like Taylor Swift, who crossed from Country to Pop. But there are examples where it doesn't work. On Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, I guess they wondered if LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know&nbsp;It"&nbsp;could cross over to&nbsp; the "Singer-Songwriter" category. Could Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen do&nbsp;that song?&nbsp;You be the judge. Enjoy. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/6s8x4qq">http://tinyurl.com/6s8x4qq</a></span>Neal's Noteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803330472075590523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2537531795729333744.post-50942340337655873202012-02-23T11:22:00.000-08:002012-02-23T11:22:26.829-08:00Imagine Someone Trashing Your Lunch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lUbP5ofqUNQ/T0Z0qCIYTrI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/GTkKqpt0X0U/s1600/rockefeller+institute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" lda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lUbP5ofqUNQ/T0Z0qCIYTrI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/GTkKqpt0X0U/s1600/rockefeller+institute.jpg" /></a></div>We had a chance this morning to talk with Dr. William "Sonny" Walker, who was the first African American appointed to a cabinet position in Arkansas history. The appointment came from then Governor Win Rockefeller. As I mentioned on the air this morning, those of us who did not live in Arkansas at the time know of Rockefeller's work in clearning gambling out of Hot Springs, and his work using his connections for Economic Development in Arkansas.<br />This year would have been Rockefellers 100th birthday, were he still alive. And the Rockefeller Institute is working on a celebration of his life and his legacy. Part of that is reminding us of his work in civil rights.<br />Now, back to this morning. Walker told us his appointment was controversial in both the White and Black communities. Whites saw him as a radical. Blacks saw him as a sell-out.<br />He job related to expanding economic opportunities. He told the story of his attempt to convince a bank to hire black tellers. That was unheard of at the time. The response from the bank was for him to go find someone who could do the job. <br />Dr. Walker told us he went to a credit union, where he found a young African American teller. He collected her credentials and presented them to the bank. The good news is the bank agreed to hire her. The bad news is the way she was treated by her fellow employees. While we have to remember the time and the culture during that period, the treatment was awful. She was made to feel very unwelcome. She would bring her lunch to work, hoping to enjoy it in the bank's breakroom. But that was not possible. Her fellow employees, according to Dr. Walker, would literally trash her lunch. They would find garbage and scraps, and put those items in her lunch, making it impossible for her to eat.<br />She eventually left Arkansas for a position in Portland. She was later recruited for community economic development in Oregon where she enjoyed success, and later in Atlanta, where she became very successful.<br />Problems with race relations continue to bubble under the surface in Arkansas today. But it's worth taking a moment to think about this woman,&nbsp; Dr. Walker, and Governor Rockefeller. They all, in their own way, blazed a small path.<br />If you'd like more information about the life and work of Governor Rockefeller, you'll find it at <a href="http://www.wr100.org/">http://www.wr100.org/</a>. <br />If you want to know more about Dr. Walker, you'll find it at: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/6qhnvun">http://tinyurl.com/6qhnvun</a>.<br />I found talking to Dr. Walker captivating,&nbsp;as I heard him reflect on those times. No one liked him. Not the blacks, not the whites. As he reflected back, he now realizes that he might have even put his family in danger. <br />Walker will speak tonight as part of a panel discussion at UAPB. It is at 6pm, free, and open to the public.Neal's Noteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803330472075590523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2537531795729333744.post-79969621573183985192012-02-20T14:27:00.000-08:002012-02-20T14:27:27.893-08:00BBQ at the Airport?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QkDSdn-euSw/T0LCfD-SWnI/AAAAAAAAAGI/Yjz4JfrXORY/s1600/whole+hog+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QkDSdn-euSw/T0LCfD-SWnI/AAAAAAAAAGI/Yjz4JfrXORY/s200/whole+hog+logo.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now here's an idea that makes sense. Arkansas Business reports in it's electronic version today that Whole Hog will open in the vacant spot at the Little Rock National Airport. Here is a link to the story: <a href="http://bit.ly/AzRMjK">http://bit.ly/AzRMjK</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now this is what the Airport needs. Airport leaders struggle with how to best portray Central Arkansas when travelers arrive.&nbsp;They point out the Airport is the first Arkansas experience most out of state&nbsp;visitors have. It's their first impression. Hence, Airport leaders have wanted a nicer entrance to the Airport. They've wanted fountains. They've wanted art. But let me ask you a question. When is the last time you had a visitor who said "Show me some fountains", or "Gosh, you guys sure have a nice entrance to your airport". No, most of them want to talk about food. More specifically, BBQ. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So for all the work to make the Airport bigger, nicer, add art and fountains, if this story is true, they've finally hit on something out at the Airport. A first impression that needs napkins, and gives our visitors a choice of six different BBQ sauces, each better than the next. I promise, no one will go home and say "Boy, they have great fountains at that Little Rock Airport". But I've tasted Whole Hog. That's something they can enjoy as they wait to board the flight home. I bet they will go home and tell their friends (especially up in Yankee Land) "Man, the best BBQ I've ever had I had at the Little Rock Airport". That's not a first impression. It's a lasting impression. Now, when can they add Catfish?</span>Neal's Noteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803330472075590523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2537531795729333744.post-75808964808087403692012-01-14T08:18:00.000-08:002012-01-14T14:34:15.599-08:00OF TASTYKAKES AND WEIGHT LOSS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GpmwufWLyKU/TxGomau_3FI/AAAAAAAAAFw/S_bJQA_UGrw/s1600/tastykake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" kba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GpmwufWLyKU/TxGomau_3FI/AAAAAAAAAFw/S_bJQA_UGrw/s200/tastykake.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many of us have fond memories of foods from our childhood. I have several, which includes a product called TASTYKAKE. Another is Gefilte Fish. Trust, me, they have nothing in common. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The various varieties of TastyKakes were a regular in our home. My favorite was the "Junior", a small yellow layer cake with&nbsp;chocolate frosting. I also liked the Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes, pictured here. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So imagine my joy when I got a tweet from a friend&nbsp;announcing for all who cared the snack cake is being sold at the Target Stores in Little Rock. Understand, this product, made in Pennsylvania, has not been available anywhere in Arkansas for as long as I've lived here. (But for a one week period at a single Wal Mart in Hot Springs about two years ago.)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My travels don't generally take me to Target. But with that Tweet in hand, off I went. And yes, my friend was right. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And, in talking to a Target Manager who just happened by, he told me they&nbsp;sold the product in two locations in the store, because it's been a very good seller. Oh Joy, it looks like they'll continue to carry my favorite snack cake from childhood.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'll have to admit, that they don't taste exactly the way I remember from childhood. Yes, I still like them. But somehow they are not quite as magical as I anticipated. That said, they do bring back memories from growing up in New Jersey, and I'm enjoying the snack cake and the memories. In short, I still like them. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And this is where my problem begins. I've been successful with a weight loss plan which I've even talked about on the radio. Called "Plan Z",&nbsp;I lost 24 pounds in&nbsp;five weeks, and I&nbsp;kept it off for 6 weeks through the holidays. The learning to keep it off is part of the plan. I go back on Plan Z "reduction" on Monday, confident in my ability to loose another 15 pounds.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The diet materials arrived this week, and this morning I have scoured the manual. While it's very helpful, no where did I find even a reference to TastyKakes. In short, they are not on the diet. Not really a surprise. &nbsp;(small tear forms on right eye).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">But oh, Joy,&nbsp;there is a loophole. I won't go into the details, but when you go on "Z - Reduction", which is the part of the diet with rapid weight loss, you actually start with a binge. Two days of eating as much of whatever you want. They explain it in the materials, and even after reading it, I don't&nbsp;fully understand it. I'm just taking it on faith. It worked the first time, so I'll do it again. In short, you put on a little temporary weight which comes off very quickly, and jump starts your rapid weight loss.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The timing couldn't be better. I have TastyKakes, and my dedication to this diet plan means I&nbsp;must binge this weekend. Want to guess what the cornerstone of that binge will be? (Again, a small tear forms.)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thank you Tastykake. Thank you Target. And Thank you Plan Z&nbsp;for the guilt free binge.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Two days worth will have to hold me for a long time.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Meantime, if you like snack cakes, Hostess announced this week they were filing for bankruptcy. Now's the time to line up an alternative. Might check out your local Target store. Bye-bye Twinkies, hello TastyKakes! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Except for me. Bye Bye Tastycakes, hello lean protein. And vegetables. And a little fruit.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(In the interest of full disclosure, Plan Z is an advertiser on our radio stations, which is tied to my success on the diet. You can get more information at www.planzdiet.com)</span></span>Neal's Noteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803330472075590523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2537531795729333744.post-67520437023970764622012-01-10T17:56:00.000-08:002012-01-10T17:56:38.211-08:00CAN A CITY SAY NIMBY?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Not In My Back Yard" is a common saying when Government or developers want to put something residents see as undesirable in their neighborhood. Homeless shelters are a good example. So are prisons. And trash dumps. Try to build one, and the local community groups will talk about property values, environmental impact&nbsp;or increased traffic flow, and storm City Hall to say "Not in My Back Yard".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">But now it's the City of Little Rock saying NIMBY, because the Fed's want to build a day center to help homeless Veterans. Yes, Veterans. The Fed's have already cut&nbsp;a deal to fix up the old Cook Jeep location on Main Street to serve our Veterans. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And therein lies the problem. City leaders have other ideas for development on Main Street, and a center to serve the homeless, even homeless Vets is not a part of that plan. So, City Hall says NIMBY.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The City needs better arguments. First, my friend the Mayor said the City should have been notified. Well, as Max Brantley writes in the Arkansas Times Blog, that just doesn't hold water.&nbsp;The Fed's took out legal ads in the paper. Community blogs wrote about it. Here's a link to Brantley's blog post: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/7n2578g">http://tinyurl.com/7n2578g</a>&nbsp;Isn't there someone at City Hall who should be reading legal notices? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Mayor also suggests the Main Street location is a poor idea because there is a liquor store right across the street. And guess what, some homeless vets have substance abuse problems.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Let me point out the new location for the Wolfe Street Center is just around the corner from the former car lot. Wolfe Street is an outstanding organization, and&nbsp;hosts substance abuse meetings on a regular basis. Those Vets needing help could find it in walking distance.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Mayor points out the city is already working on a Day Service Center for the Homeless, and that location is&nbsp;better suited to serve the homeless, including the Vets. That Center will be out on Confederate Blvd. Heck, it's almost walking distance. When you get off the bus.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The truth is, the Mayor just doesn't want the new Veterans Homeless Service&nbsp;Center on Main Street. A homeless day center, even for Vets, is obviously not consistent&nbsp;the vision he and others have for&nbsp;a redeveloped&nbsp;Main Street. I get that. I think most people get it. A center serving the homeless, even homeless Vets, is probably not going to attract downtown business, more entertment venues and maybe even some residents.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">If&nbsp;City Hall wants to trump up some bad reasons for yelling NIMBY, that's their right. I just hope the next time a neighborhood group opposes a government or developers plan that will impact property values or increase traffic, City Hall will have more empathy when citizens say NIMBY. </span>Neal's Noteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803330472075590523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2537531795729333744.post-5591837193859463702012-01-04T09:03:00.000-08:002012-01-04T09:03:16.027-08:00My Wife was Right about Jack Black<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g2ks3hepjqE/TwR_Oalzw-I/AAAAAAAAAFg/ot7_yfVgfBA/s1600/blackjack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g2ks3hepjqE/TwR_Oalzw-I/AAAAAAAAAFg/ot7_yfVgfBA/s320/blackjack.jpg" width="141" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Several months ago, my wife brought home a new product for me to try. It was a small tube of of Jack Black beard lube. As you can see from my picture, I shave my head. I do it every morning in the shower. And I was very happy with the product I had, and saw no reason to try the new product she brought home. I figured I knew more about shaving my head then she did, so I tossed this little tube in the drawer. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Fast forward to this past weekend. I was a Men's store in Little Rock, and as I completed my purchase, the salesman gave me a free sample of the same product which I've been ignoring. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I don't know why I tried it when he gave it to me, but I did. I will tell you, it's the best shaving experience I've ever had. I use it sparingly, just a light coat over my dome and face. I don't know how it works, but there are two things I like. First, it gives me a very close shave, better than anything else I've used. And second, it doesn't gum up the five-blade shaver I use. The lube rinses out quickly, and that means I can also shave faster. A third bonus is that in contains some kind of oil that keeps my head smooth, and doesn't dry out. Give it a try. My wife was right. I don't say that often, and I've never said it in print. Now we'll see if she reads this blog.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-------</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>SPEAKING OF ODD THINGS --- </strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">She also told me about a story she heard regarding a dead rodent and Mt. Dew. Seems a man is suing Mt. Dew, claiming he found a mouse in his Dew. The Company's response: That can't possibly have happened, because the content of Mt. Dew would have disolved the mouse. Really? Is that the best answer they could come up with.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">You can't make this stuff up. Here's a link to the story: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/7aodl67" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/7aodl67</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-------</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>WHAT DO SENATOR MARK PRYOR AND OCCUPY LR HAVE IN COMMON?</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The short answer is frustration. I had a member from the Occupy LR folks on my morning show on FreshTalk 93.3. I say member, because he was quick to point out&nbsp;they have no structure. But they do share a common frustration about what he called lack of representation in Government. His point was that big business can afford to lobby Congress and regulating agencies, but the common person has no way to be heard, hence the movement.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Fast forward to Senator Mark Pryor. He is also frustrated. His comes&nbsp;about from a lack of action on real solutions for the economic problems facing the country. The Senator said this morning he doesn't think we'll see any real answers before&nbsp;the election. The reason is simple. If a member of Congress votes for any kind of revenue increase or spending cut, those same big dollars the Occupy people talk about will be used in ads to target that&nbsp;Congressman or Senator. "He voted to raise your taxes", or "He voted to take away your benefits".</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, frustration over the big money that controls&nbsp;Congress is a concern they share.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I hope you'll join me for "AM Arkansas", weekday mornings from 6am-8am on FreshTalk 93.3 - Arkansas' New Talk Station.</span>Neal's Noteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803330472075590523noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2537531795729333744.post-51632378873801941252011-12-30T08:47:00.000-08:002011-12-30T14:32:38.633-08:00THE FOUR REPS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> hope you've had a chance to hear "The Four Reps". These are four young men who came together as part of the Young Performers Program at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre in Little Rock. I first heard these guys when they performed at a Rotary meeting.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I immediately invited them to come be on the radio with us, and they joined us this morning. Below is a still picture of them in our studio this morning, with the audio from one of the songs they did on air. I hope you enjoy them.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzexQnnc4FZ6XnXI4DW29IeW8_OSFrQZfzUz3M9LZoafRwAYGkWsADL3dukxezwSEqGOHq2ztoUsQSvucSAjw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Neal's Noteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803330472075590523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2537531795729333744.post-48076797611950350282011-12-28T11:08:00.000-08:002011-12-29T07:49:46.788-08:00Concerned about the Cops at LRPD<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The police involved shooting at Park Plaza Mall is the latest in a string of incidents involving use of force. And I'm concerned about the impact it will have on the men and women of the LRPD. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My concern is&nbsp;about what I see as a lack of transparency from LRPD on these incidents, and a fear it&nbsp;will cause what is called an unintended consequence. I talked about this during our morning radio program on Fresh Talk 93.3.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Several people have mentioned this string of incidents to me, most in the "what is going on over there" kind of way. When the citizens loose confidence in the leadership of a government body, citizens (or certain groups) will seek to impose their own oversight. And that's what I'm afraid of for a couple of reasons.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">With leadership comes the responsibiity to keep citizens both informed and confident in the decision making process.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In other cities where&nbsp;there has been concern about "use of force" by police, there have been moves for so-called Citizen Oversight Committees. I generally don't find that to be a good idea. I know police train heavily on the split second&nbsp;life and death decisions officers have to make.&nbsp;In my early years as a reporter, I sat through some of the training, so I have an understanding of what that training involves. It would be unfair to put officers in a position of having to not trust their training for fear of the pending oversight of their split second decisions.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My other concern, because some of these incidents involved officers working off duty jobs, is there will be a push to limit or reduce the off duty jobs. My general sense is that when you have to put on a bullet proof vest to go to work, you should be paid more. Many police officers depend on those off-duty jobs to provide the extras their families want. I don't want to see that option removed for those who want the off duty work.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I think we have a very good police department, and I have every confidence in our Chief. But in the area of transparency, they need to find a way to improve while they protect the integrity of their investigations. It can be done. It is the confidence I have in these leaders and officers that makes me comfortable in saying "C'mon, you can do better". </span>Neal's Noteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803330472075590523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2537531795729333744.post-36457634843673021102011-12-26T07:33:00.000-08:002011-12-26T07:33:28.845-08:00I'll See You on the Radio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GMnzvv5K7p8/TviNf_qrIBI/AAAAAAAAADM/EjCYuzvjOVw/s1600/Neal+w+C+Osgood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GMnzvv5K7p8/TviNf_qrIBI/AAAAAAAAADM/EjCYuzvjOVw/s320/Neal+w+C+Osgood.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I borrow those words from longtime CBS Broadcaster Charles Osgood. You may be familiar with him from&nbsp;"Sunday Morning", a program that blends wonderful photo journalism with superb story telling. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Osgood is also on the CBS Radio Network. He ends his TV Broadcast with a nod toward his radio roots, as he says "I'll see you on the radio". </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I've always liked that phrase, and it's reminder of&nbsp;radios' ability to deliver "Theatre of the Mind". </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Tomorrow, I return to the radio as we launch a new talk radio station in Little Rock. It will be called "Fresh Talk 93.3", and we bring Little Rock a fresh talk alternative.&nbsp; </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I won't give you the entire run down here. But I will, without shame, ask you to give us a listen. I will host the 6am-8am block, which will combine news, interviews with news makers and a little bit of fun. Guests this week include Max Brantley of the Arkansas Times; LR Mayor Mark Stodola; Congressman Tim Griffin; Senator and NLR Mayoral Hopeful Sen. Tracy Steel and Democrat Gazette columnist John Brummett.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I've been off the air for almost four years, so I'll need a few days to get my radio sea-legs back. That's my way of saying there may be a few technical errors in the opening days. So I'll both apologize in advance and beg your tolerance.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">It return, I offer you this tip. Over the holidays, we feasted on a Cajun style deep fried turkey. Its'&nbsp;origin may surprise you. It was from the drive&nbsp;up window at Popeye's. Yes, the one that sells chicken. The cost for the fully cooked 12 pound bird was $35. It comes frozen, so you can store it at home until you are ready. Just thaw it out, follow the directions and amaze everyone at the table. It was wonderfully seasoned, moist and for my taste, beat any roasted turkey I've ever eaten. It's my understanding they only make it available for a short time, starting just prior to Thanksgiving. Last year I waited too long and missed out. They had already sold every Turkey they fried. And I checked several locations.&nbsp;This year I claimed mine back in the middle of November. I was not going to be denied again!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So my tip is this: Make a note to yourself for next year, and treat your family and friends. And to the folks at Popeyes, thank you!&nbsp;Please put my name on one for next year. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In the meantime, starting tomorrow, I'll "see you on the radio". </span>Neal's Noteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803330472075590523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2537531795729333744.post-50798934689819830412011-12-22T05:19:00.000-08:002011-12-22T05:19:27.369-08:00A great idea for Dad!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-owJ3jkxooaE/TvMpDLyQwFI/AAAAAAAAADA/PnM93iaGSj0/s1600/my+dad+his+stories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-owJ3jkxooaE/TvMpDLyQwFI/AAAAAAAAADA/PnM93iaGSj0/s1600/my+dad+his+stories.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's face it. Dads can be hard to buy for. I'm no different. We often have this bad habit of buying for ourselves the things we really want.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">But sometimes there are things we don't even know we want. And what a pleasant surprise when our children discover those things, and that becomes the gift.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Here is a great example. My college aged daughters came across this small book called "My Dad. His Stories. His Words." The book is full of questions, and I'm expected to answer the questions,&nbsp;and then&nbsp;gift the book back to the girls. What a great way for a Dad to tell his children the things he would like to tell them, if only they would ask. This book is a giant ask. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The questions include:</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"When you were a kid, what was your favorite holiday, and how did your family celebrate it"?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"What's the best thing your Dad and/or Mom taught you?"</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"What are the two things you didn't tell your parents about?"</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Verdana;">There are easy questions about things like&nbsp;your friends growing up, your first job and&nbsp;your first car.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">But there are also more thought provoking questions about life lessons, who taught them to me, and what it felt like when I was first a Dad.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Recent articles have said there is a growing trend toward gifts that&nbsp;provide memories and&nbsp;experiences rather than gifts that are just mere possessions. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Filling in the answers to this book will provide a memorable experience for me, and hopefully something meaningful when I return it to my daughters with all the answers. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">They are already asking "Who will get to keep the book?"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Knowing that they want to know the answers is, in itself, a gift. And I could never get this kind of joy from another sweater.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I can't wait to start filling in the answers. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">(By the way, my daughter found it in a gift shop during a trip to Chicago. But she later discovered they carry it at a gift store called Frencesca's right here in Little Rock, just in case you want to surprise your Dad.)</span>Neal's Noteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803330472075590523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2537531795729333744.post-10973960370849557162011-12-20T12:28:00.000-08:002011-12-20T12:28:39.394-08:00Where has the year gone?At this time of year, we all mutter, in some form "this year has flown by". Nothing makes you realize that until you are reminded of all the things that happened this year. If you'd like to be reminded in a visual way, the Wall Street Journal has compiled a list of pictures from the year. You can link to it here - <a href="http://t.co/EGND8o12">http://t.co/EGND8o12</a><br /><br />How many of these would you have recalled without prompting? (This is a very small list, and in no particular order) <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Casey Anthony case; The shooting of Congresswoman Gifford; The death of Steve Jobs; Charlie Sheen's fight with CBS, his ultimate firing, and his work to now re-hab his image; The April tornado, and the impact in Vilonia; The scandals at UCA; and the earthquake/tsunami in Japan. (Yes, that was all this year)<br /><br />Wow, this year has flown by.Neal's Noteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803330472075590523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2537531795729333744.post-25762124099706461332011-12-18T11:24:00.000-08:002011-12-18T11:24:48.304-08:00It's my new Blog.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello again. I say that because I started this blog back in 2008, but found I did not have the time to devote to blogging I had hoped. And like many writers, I decided that bad writing was not better than no writing, so I stopped.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Leave your blog un-attended for a long enough time, and the Blog Police take it away, and you have to start over.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">That's exactly what I'm doing today. I will soon return to the air in Central Arkansas with a morning radio program. I plan to make blogging a part of that as well.&nbsp;I'll tell you more about that later.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In the meantime, I hope you'll make this part of your regular reading, and I'll do my best to make your time here worthwhile.</span>Neal's Noteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803330472075590523noreply@blogger.com0